In a surprising turn of events, the residents and business owners in Rawalpindi seem to have completely disregarded the shutter-down strike called by the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP). Meanwhile, the opposition alliance's efforts to organize a protest rally in Islamabad on Sunday also fell short of expectations.
Contrary to the strike’s intentions, all shops and markets remained operational, and traffic continued to flow without interruption. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had urged citizens to participate in this strike to mark the second anniversary of the alleged rigging during the general elections held on February 8, 2024.
However, traders in the area showed no inclination to support this call for a shutdown or any form of disruption. They indicated that their businesses would carry on as usual, with major trade associations stating that PTI had not reached out for their backing.
The president of the Rawalpindi Traders Association, Sharjeel Mir, expressed his views to Dawn, stating that the people of Rawalpindi had firmly rejected the strike initiative, noting that every market and shop was open with patrons frequenting them just like any other day. "The people of Rawalpindi are uninterested in political games and will resist any attempts to exploit them for political gain," he remarked, emphasizing the community's desire to avoid actions that could jeopardize their livelihoods.
Danish, a bookseller located in Saddar, confirmed that he had no involvement with the strike, describing Sunday as a typical business day, with customers coming into his store as per normal. Similarly, Hamza Bhatti, a trader from the Commercial Market, noted that there was no indication of a strike in his area. "I opened my shop as always, and the flow of customers was steady, perhaps even better than usual," he added.
In Islamabad, TTAP had planned to hold a torch-bearing rally outside Faisal Mosque that evening. However, the opposition coalition claimed that law enforcement agencies had blocked all access routes to the mosque and apprehended over two dozen participants, including eight women.
Despite such hurdles, several prominent figures managed to gather in the vicinity, including Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, and PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas lamented that while families mourned their losses, the Punjab government was preoccupied with organizing celebratory events such as Basant and dance parties. He criticized the law enforcement agencies for their failure to ensure public safety, which he said had led to numerous tragic incidents.
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar emphasized that this protest was merely the inception of a larger movement and should not be dismissed as a one-time occurrence. He asserted that the momentum would build, empowering citizens to reclaim their right to a democratically elected government, while also expressing concern about Imran Khan's health.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed pointed out that it was disheartening to witness a Gaza Board of Peace meeting planned in the United States, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set to attend alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai claimed that the shutter-down strike had shown some success in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and parts of Sindh, while being only partially effective in Punjab, Karachi, and Hyderabad.
Amir Mughal, the President of PTI Islamabad, accused law enforcement of launching a crackdown on party supporters, alleging that more than two dozen activists were arrested in Sector E-7, where the Faisal Mosque is situated. However, police officials did not corroborate these claims regarding arrests of PTI affiliates.
As these events unfold, one can't help but wonder: what do you think about the people's response to political calls for strikes? Are citizens becoming increasingly disengaged from political movements? Share your thoughts in the comments!
